Former Millbury wedding videographer, charged in scam, arrested over weekend

The wedding videographer who allegedly scammed dozens of customers was arrested Sunday for allegedly bashing his mother's sport utility vehicle with a baseball bat.

Jesse J. Clark, 29, of 203 N. Sturbridge Road, Charlton, appeared in Dudley District Court Monday to face charges that he vandalized property and violated a restraining order. Police said Mr. Clark's estranged wife, Veronica, was in his company when the truck was damaged Sunday night, in violation of an abuse protection order.

Mr. Clark was upset about a column written about him in the Sunday Telegram, according to a police report.Judge Timothy Bibaud released Mr. Clark on personal recognizance in connection with those two cases, but ordered him held without bail because of a probation violation. Just last week in Central District Court in Worcester, Mr. Clark admitted to sufficient facts that he pushed down a network cameraman outside the Millbury police station on June 4. That assault and battery case was continued without a finding until Dec. 18, provided Mr. Clark stays out of trouble.

On Sunday, Charlton police responded to a 911 call from Mr. Clark's mother, who said that her son was in the front yard “flipping out due to a newspaper article that was in the paper today” and had smashed up her car with the baseball bat, according to a police report. When police arrived, his parents were restraining him, and police saw a black Nissan Xterra with its windows and lights smashed.

According to the report, Jesse Clark told police that his father had spoken to the newspaper about an article about him and that he became “infuriated” that his father didn't tell him. Police said they could detect “the strong odor” of alcohol on Mr. Clark's breath.

Mr. Clark's estranged wife, Veronica, told police that they were possibly going to reconcile. The couple's two young daughters were in Veronica's car at the time, and police planned to file a report with the state Department of Children and Families, according to the police report.

Mr. Clark's father is also listed as a victim, but he refused to provide a written statement, police said.

His mother said Mr. Clark had been drinking and is bipolar. Mr. Clark told police he had been taking his medication.

When police arrived, Mr. Clark's wife was standing outside. She also said Mr. Clark struck the vehicle with a bat.

Mr. Clark allegedly told police he has been with his wife for the last three weeks, that they have been talking and she wants to drop the protection order, but he was arrested for violating the order, the report said.

Mr. Clark is scheduled to return to court March 15.

Mr. Clark formerly owned SureShot Videography and SureShot Portraits in Millbury. He allegedly took deposits ranging from $800 to $2,000 from more than 90 couples and then did not deliver the promised video services.

In January, state Attorney General Martha Coakley filed a lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court against Mr. Clark, seeking more than $75,000 in restitution plus civil penalties and the full recovery of existing wedding footage.

Superior Court Judge Judith Fabricant granted a preliminary injunction against Mr. Clark, his business SureShot Portraits LLC, and former employee Keith Morin, prohibiting them from accepting consumer deposits for any kind of business in the future.

The court also issued an injunction against Veronica A. Clark, who is cooperating with the state, according to Ms. Coakley's office.

On a YouTube video last week, Mr. Clark mocked the alleged victims and scoffed at the attorney general's case.

Dianne Williamson of the Telegram & Gazette staff contributed to this report.